|
-
SHE'S
WORKING HER WAY THROUGH COLLEGE - Warner Brothers, 1952.
Stars Ronald Reagan, Virginia Mayo, Gene Nelson and Don DeFore.
A musical remake of THE MALE ANIMAL, a 1940's comedy that
starred Olivia DeHavilland and Henry Fonda. Virginia Mayo as the
burlesque-queen-turned-college-coed Angela, AKA "Hot Garters
Gertie", is a former student of Reagan's character, Professor
Palmer. In addition to her more obvious talents, it seems Angela
is an aspiring playwright. In a series of unlikely coincidences,
Ronnie and his student reunite and conspire to enroll Angela at
the Ivy-covered college where Ronnie is a professor of theatre
arts. This being the early '50's, Angela's shady past is
concealed from one and all until she is ultimately unmasked by a
jealous rival in the college musical show and threatened with
expulsion. Angela's love interest is supplied by affable Gene
Nelson, a dancer later turned choreographer and director. His
style is athletic, a la Gene Kelly, and he has a pleasant
singing voice. A routine in the gym on various pieces of
gymnastic equipment is a standout. The future president's best
scene is one in which he has an argument with his wife(Phyllis
Thaxter)and gets rip-roaringly drunk. All in all, SHE'S WORKING
HER WAY THROUGH COLLEGE is a charming and nostalgic musical,
with some better-than-good performances scattered throughout.
An Excellent+ to Like
New IB
Technicolor
print on 2 x 2000' reels in cans - $699
-
STOP, YOU'RE KILLING ME -
Warner Brothers, 1952. Starring Broderick Crawford, Claire
Trevor, Virginia Gibson and Margaret Dumont. Big, brawling,
braying Broderick Crawford and the divine Claire Trevor at her
brassy, sassy height. As a hood and his wife/moll longing to go
straight and enter high society for the sake of their daughter
the pair tear it up, Broderick with his over the top
performance, which is just right for the material and Claire's
more shaded but equally well measured work. Joining them in the
fun are several distinguished character actors, Ned Glass,
Sheldon Leonard, Harry Morgan, Margaret Dupont etc., all doing
some variant of their patented shtick and adding to the jolly
nature of this black comedy.
A Like New
IB
Technicolor
print on 2 x 2000' reels in cans - $499
|